With the regular season now complete, Cardiff are the only Welsh side still standing after securing a place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
It has been another bruising campaign for Wales’ four professional regions — Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets — who have had to contend with financial uncertainty, off-field turmoil and significantly smaller playing budgets than many of their URC rivals.
Yet despite the challenges, there have still been standout performers across the Welsh game.
Here is the best combined regional XV from the 2025-26 season.
15. Angus O’Brien (Dragons)
The 31-year-old has arguably been the Dragons’ best player this season and his strong form has led to many pundits calling for his inclusion in the Wales squad.
O’Brien’s kicking game has been second to none this season, while his ability to act as a second playmaker coupled with his distribution has been a key part of the Dragons’ resurgence this term.
The talented playmaker is also a leader within the group and this has arguably been the best campaign of his career.
14. Rio Dyer (Dragons)
The 26-year-old has been a model of consistency for the Dragons this season.
Dyer is strong defensively and under the high ball, while his work rate was typified by his outstanding try-saving tackle on Auguste Cadot in the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Montpellier.
The Dragons speedster has also been a potent threat with ball in hand, scoring seven tries this season.
13. Eddie James (Scarlets)
The powerful Wales centre has been impressive all season for club and country.
James’ best position is arguably at inside centre but he has played a lot of his rugby at 13 this season.
The Wales international is a handful with ball in hand and is a serious carrier capable of making significant post-contact metres.
Next season the Scarlets coaching team need to work out a way to get the best out of James because he is such an effective weapon.
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff)
The 27-year-old has been employed at 13 over the past few weeks but his best position is undoubtedly inside centre.
Thomas has played a pivotal role in Cardiff reaching the URC play-offs for the first time in their history.
The Wales internationals is arguably the most important player in Cardiff’s attacking game and has dovetailed well with outside-half Callum Sheedy this season.
Everything good about Cardiff’s attack tends to have Thomas at the centre of it.
An honourable mention must also go to Dragons centre Aneurin Owen who has enjoyed a fine campaign.
11. Tom Bowen (Cardiff)
The Wales U20s wing has taken to the professional game as easy as a duck takes to water.
Bowen is electric with ball in hand and is one of the deadliest finishers in the URC.
There remain areas of his game in need of improvement but Bowen has been hugely influential in attack and has scored a number of important tries for Cardiff.
His finish in the victory over the Stormers on Friday night was out of the top drawer.
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys)
The 22-year-old is a class act and when he plays well the Ospreys tend to fire.
Edwards is a very dangerous runner who can create opportunities out of nothing with an excellent kicking game.
The Wales international is pivotal to everything that is good about the Ospreys and edges Cardiff’s Callum Sheedy to the number 10 jersey.
9. Johan Mulder (Cardiff)
The South African may not be a big name but he has been a shrewd acquisition by the Welsh club.
Mulder has been a key figure in Cardiff’s push for the play-offs and is technically very good.
The 26-year-old’s basics are excellent, while he is also a threat with ball in hand and is excellent in defence, even winning a handful of turnovers at the breakdown.
His game management is also top class.
8. Fletcher Anderson (Scarlets)
The New Zealander has been a revelation since arriving at the Scarlets from Tasman.
Anderson is one of the best ball-carrying backrowers in the URC and consistently makes significant post-contact metres.
The 23-year-old produces big moments in games and the Scarlets have done well to retain his services.
Anderson has already confirmed he is open to represent Wales when he qualifies on residency in 2030 and the Welsh Rugby Union must help the Scarlets make that a reality.
7. Dan Thomas (Cardiff)
The 32-year-old has been outstanding for Cardiff this season and it would be a struggle to find a player more consistent.
Thomas is a workhorse who puts his body on the line and does the unseen dirty work which allows others to shine.
The former Scarlets, Gloucester and Bristol Bears backrower has made more tackles than any other player in the URC this season (232), while he is a scavenger at the breakdown.
Thomas played a central role in Cardiff’s season-defining victories over the Ospreys and the Stormers of late.
Jac Morgan is the other obvious candidate but he has missed a large part of the season due to injury.
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
The 28-year-old has taken his game to another level this season for both club and country.
Wainwright is undoubtedly one of the best backrowers in the Northern Hemisphere and is a tremendous all-round player.
He has played the majority of his rugby at No 8 but we had to get both Wainwright and the Scarlets’ Fletcher Anderson into this team.
Wainwright will be a big loss to the Dragons when he joins Leicester Tigers next season.
5. Ryan Smith (Ospreys)
What a signing the Australian has been for the Ospreys.
Smith arrived last summer from Queensland Reds and has had a huge impact.
The 29-year-old is a very physical player and a dynamic carrier who rarely fails to go forward and dominates the collisions.
He is also a good lineout forward and a strong leader within this Ospreys squad.
4. Josh McNally (Cardiff)
The 35-year-old has been a key player for Cardiff since joining from Bath a couple of years ago.
McNally leads through his actions and is a player who gets through a mountain of work.
The former England international is very physical, effective at the maul and a decent carrier.
He just about edges the Dragons’ Ben Carter for a place in this team.
3. Javan Sebastian (Cardiff)
Tighthead prop is not an area of strength in Welsh rugby but Sebastian has been consistently solid all season.
The former Scotland international has done a decent job in anchoring the Cardiff scrum and gets through a lot of work around the park.
Elsewhere, the Scarlets’ Archer Holz and the Dragons’ Robert Hunt are superior scrummagers but have missed large parts of the season due to injury.
2. Brodie Coghlan (Dragons)
The 25-year-old has been outstanding for the Dragons this season and was very unlucky to miss out on a place in the Wales squad.
Coghlan is a bundle of energy and is a very explosive carrier while his work at the set-piece is also good.
He just about edges out Liam Belcher, Ryan Elias and Sam Parry.
1. Rhys Barratt (Cardiff)
The fact the 24-year-old has won a first official call-up to the Wales squad is testament to his form this season.
Barratt is a solid scrummager, but he brings so much with his work rate around the park.
He is a very explosive carrier who makes a lot of tackles and is a jackal threat, while he is also a talented ball player, as evidenced by a tremendous 50/22 in the victory over Racing 92 in January.